Luz is a three-year-old girl from a mining town in central Bolivia. Her mother is a farmer and her father sadly passed away from a heart attack soon after she was born. Luz has a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her weak and dependent on an external oxygen tank. Fortunately, our medical partner, The International Cardiac Alliance can help. Luz is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on March 21st. Our medical partners are requesting $1,500 to fund her procedure. Luz's mother says, "I am looking forward to my daughter being able to play normally and start preschool after her surgery!"

Theare is a 15-year-old student from Cambodia. He has two older brothers and they live with their grandmother and cousins in Battambang province. His parents are divorced and his mother works in a clothing factory in another province to support her children. In school, he is in grade five and enjoys classes about Khmer history. He would like to be a teacher when he is older. At home, he enjoys soccer, but cannot play due to his condition. Two years ago, he was riding with his brother on a motorbike and fell, suffering a severe injury to his left tibia or shin. His leg became red, swollen, and painful. His grandmother took him to a local hospital, where he had several different surgeries. Unfortunately, none of the surgeries repaired his leg and has since been diagnosed with a delayed union fracture or a fracture that will not heal without intervention. The local surgeons told his grandmother they could not do any more surgery to fix his leg as Theare needed a more complicated procedure that would entail internal fixation and bone grafting. His current condition hinders his mobility, forcing him to rely on crutches and endure constant pain, impeding his ability to keep up with school and indulge in his love for soccer. When Theare learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for six hours seeking treatment. On March 12th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse his left tibia and to correct the non-union. This will help him walk unaided and help relieve the pain. Now, Theare needs help to fund this $600 procedure. Theare said, "I hope to walk with no pain and continue my schooling."

May is a 59-year-old mother of four, living with her family in a refugee camp along the Thai-Burma border. While May and one of her daughters manage their household, her husband serves as a minister. Her two sons teach at a bible school within the camp. May began experiencing stomach pain and noticed an increase in the size of her abdomen. She has difficulty moving, sitting for long periods, walking, and sleeping. The doctors at our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, diagnosed May with a suspected malignant ovarian tumor. She is scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on March 6th at Mae Sot General Hospital. She is seeking $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. May said, “My condition means my children have to help me with my household and personal duties when my pain becomes too much. I want to go back to working with my husband in the church after my surgery if I am okay.”